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I can across this today, thought it made sense in helping to keep your identity safe

Protect Your Identity with Credit Cards and a Passport Card: It's always a good idea to protect your personal information (name, address, social security number, birthday, etc.), but it's more important now than ever. Identity thieves are more prevalent than ever, but there are some things you an do to protect yourself.

* Use a credit card, never a debit card. While debit cards do help prevent overspending since you can only spend money you have, they provide less protection from unlawful charges than credit cards. It is very important to never carry a balance on credit cards though, since carrying a balance for a period of time can cost you as much as ten times the money you spent. * Unless you are opening a bank or loan account, renting a car, or providing identity to the authorities, never show your driver's license to anyone. If you ever opened a bar tab, rented expensive equipment, or applied for a job, often they ask to hold or make a copy of your driver's license. Once that driver's license leaves your wallet, the information written on it can be used to steal money from you. Your driver's license has your name, mailing address, birthday, and signature, something identity thieves would love to get their hands on. We've heard countless stories of waitresses holding credit cards & driver's licenses, making copies, then stealing money from unsuspecting victims a few weeks later.

If you are a US Citizen, get yourself a US Passport Card. The Card is a valid federal document accepted as valid ID in all 50 states. The Card is really meant for land & sea travel between US, Canada, The Caribbean, and Bermuda, but has some other big benefits:

* It is a valid Federal identification document, accepted as proof of identity at airports and as proof of age when buying alcohol within all 50 states. * It has only your picture, name, and birthday. There's nothing on it thieves can use to harm you. * It's about the size and thickness of a credit card, and fits in your wallet. * The Card is an extension of your regular passport, and it does not replace the book-sized US Passport (you still need the book if you plan to travel overseas).

At first it might seem crazy to pay extra for a card you may never use for travel, but it's a valuable Federal ID, accepted to open bar tabs, holding while you borrow equipment, and even for job applications. If you're going to apply or renew your regular US Passport, add $30 or $55 to the free to get a US Passport Card as well, and use this harmless ID instead of your driver's license. On the Passport application/renewal form, just check that you want a US Passport Card, pay the fees, drop off with required documents at any US Post Office, and you'll get one in 4-6 weeks.

One downside, if your Passport Card is ever lost or stolen, while your sensitive personal information will be secure, it can take several weeks to replace the card.

Fraud is definitely on the rise. Just remember that if its too good to be true, it probably is. Never give your information out without confirming who you are talking to, most banks, ect. will not call you to ask for your info. If someone has to come to you to sell you something, you probably don't need it. Any unexpected visits from any company/salesman should raise your suspicions. Stay away from Craig's list.Wait and MAKE SURE all personal and business checks clear before exchanging property/services.

Just in general, always be conscious of your surroundings and who you are dealing with--there are a LOT of crooks out there, trust me.

There are 2 prices (1.) new applicants and (2.) current passport holders. You can even renew your passport while getting a passport card,

I recommend a passport & a passport card for everyone, all my kids have them

PURPOSE

The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.VALIDITY AND COST

Adults (Age 16 and Older)

Validity: 10 years

First-Time Applicant Cost: $55Previous Passport Holder Cost: $30

Minors (Under Age 16)

Validity: 5 years

Cost for All Minors: $40

HOW TO APPLY

All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card.

If you have a U.S. passport book and are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for the card by mail. You can use Form DS-82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card.

If you have never had a U.S. passport book or are not eligible to use Form DS-82, you must apply in person using Form DS-11.

All passport cards will be returned using First Class Mail. Passport cards cannot be shipped to you using overnight delivery.

SECURITY

To increase speed, efficiency, and security at U.S. land and sea border crossings, the passport card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. There is no personal information written to the RFID chip. This chip points to a stored record in secure government databases.

With RFID technology, Customs and Border Protection inspectors will be able to access photographs and other biographical information stored in secure government databases as the traveler approaches an inspection station.

The passport card uses state-of-the-art security features to prevent against the possibility of counterfeiting and forgery. A protective RFID-blocking sleeve is provided with each passport card to protect against unauthorized reading or tracking of the card when it is not in use.

HISTORY

We began production of the U.S. Passport Card on July 14, 2008. As of March 2010, more than 2,700,000 Passport Cards have been issued to U.S. citizens.Learn more about U.S. Passport Card

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